Hammell on Trial is, strictly speaking a rocker (his last record features a hell of a lot of loud electric guitars) and his favourite subject is the various mafia types in NOO YAWK who kill and steal and watch dodgy films involving consenting adults...and pets. If he is a singer songwriter by that definition then so is Lou Reed Johnny Lydon and Joe Strummer. Regarding the taciturn nature of the singer songwriter, people of a taciturn nature don't intersperse their set with long stories of their lives and explanation of their songs in minute detail. A taciturn person is someone who dislikes speaking at all. I agree with the moping, usually over some total woman who dumped said singer. I can't blame her. The problem I have with singer / songwriters is that they can do neither very well. Their songs are doggy doo and their vocal abilities are non existant. It's just a kind of primal whine therapy. Best